The Dance Mom Thread

[jwsqrdplus2]

www.discountdance.com
We use them for EVERYTHING!

Ditto, although for shoes, I use the dance store next to our studio. A little pricier, but at least they fit. Especially since street shoe sizes and dance shoes sizes are not equal. DD1 wears a 1 or 1 1/2 in street shoes; her tap shoes are a 4.

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

We use http://www.dancewearsolutions.com .

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Dance Mom here

DD15 - Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, and Lyrical. She does not compete but has danced for the Moscow Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet, and Camp Broadway NYC. She is also on dance team for her HS and has danced in the NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade and this year will be dancing before the 3pm Main Street Parade in WDW. Next year is suppose to be a secret, I think we will be in Chicago.

She danced about 15-20 hours per week prior to HS but has cut back her studio time until she graduates. So in-studio now is 3-4 hours plus her classes at school. She will minor in dance in college...

 

[luvlumpy]

Another dance mom checking in!! DD7 has been in dance for 4 yrs. This is her first year to be in company and she is the youngest on the squad. She takes ballet, tap and jazz during the week and has company practice on the weekends. We will compete in 3 events this year with the 2 of them being about 2 hours away and the last is an hour away. It is a very young team, so this is going to be just a learning experience for most of them. We're hoping that most of these girls stay dedicated so we can eventually build a strong competetive team.

My dd3 is in her first year of ballet/tap and absolutely loves it!! I actually think she likes it more than my oldest did. We'll see if it keeps up!

So glad to see a thread like this here!! I'll be checking out those dancewear websites! We only have Target and then a couple of really pricey shops close to us.

 

[AZMickeyfans]

YEAH! A thread where people might understand dd's hectic dance schedule.

DD age: 7 1/2
Dancing for: since she was 2 1/2 so 5 years.
Level: Mini Company at our studio which is Jazz 2, Ballet 2 and 3 and Tap 4. She also takes lyrical, musical theater, tumbling, and 2 tech classes
Are DD's Competitve: Yes, just switched studios so we are now into the competition and convention circuit
How often if DD competes does she compete: This year just twice but next 1-2 times per month so we are told, company at our other studio did not compete.
How many hours a week: 10 1/2 hours plus an hour of gymnastics and an hour of cheer at other places to "enhance" dance. Not including the extra rehearsals for competitions and production numbers of course.


Everyone says we do to much but honestly she would have it no other way. She is addicted to dance. When she's home she practicing constantly or when she plays she always incorporates pirouettes and leaps I cannot get her to sit still

I'm so glad this thread is here. Finally someone to talk dance to on this DIS!!

Our next thing is LA Dance Force convention in Phoenix.

 

[AZMickeyfans]

So I am doing today. Why is it that 1/3 of my laundry basket if full of dance clothes?!?!

So true. We have 3 drawers in a dresser full of dance clothes but I really think we need a seperate dance dresser for all the leos, tights, shorts, pants, hair accessories, shoes etc.

www.discountdance.com
We use them for EVERYTHING!

We use http://www.dancewearsolutions.com .

These are the 2 we use most often. Our studio recommends Katrinawear.com because they have the right brown for their studio colors (brown and teal) They dont have a lot of merchandise though and are a little pricey but I bought some of their leos and shorts on sale at the last convention and really love the quality.

 

[Sleepy]

I have used the following because having a boy creates challenges and when your child goes to a small school where they only carry girl stuff and leaves the mom's of boys to just scratch their heads , I had to really do some research. These places carry little boy ballet belts and some other stuff. Now, my son goes to a bigger school where they carry everything but his socks and shoes. I get the shoes from dancedistributors. Can you believe the same shoes that cost $13 in America costs us 20Euro here That's about $30! I have had no problem with shipping or credit card issues. These places carry girl stuff too, I just made comments specific to boys for certain items.

http://www.dancedistributors.com/ (for shoes)
http://www.tutu.com/ (for boys pants/tights...whatever you call them)
http://www.riversedgedancewear.com/ (for beginner boy full bottom ballet belts)

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

AZMickeyfans, we are in Tucson and end up going to Phoenix for all of our conventions/regional competitons. We are going to Encore in April and Celebrity in May. Is your DD's studio going to either of those?

 

[AZMickeyfans]

AZMickeyfans, we are in Tucson and end up going to Phoenix for all of our conventions/regional competitons. We are going to Encore in April and Celebrity in May. Is your DD's studio going to either of those?

No, we are doing No Limit in May. Its a small competition I think the same weekend as Celebrity. Encore and Celebrity look to be in the works for next year though. The Director wanted the girls who are new to company to go to the smaller competitions this year so they are not so overwhelmed.

Were you at SHOCK? I know there was a Tucson studio there I think it was called Dance West.

Nice to meet you "neighbor" sort of anyway!

 

[missypie]

My 15 year old is seriously considering giving up private company next year and just doing HS drill team. If she makes varsity, they practice 2 1/2 hours a day. With that, plus an outside technique class, her skills should stay sharp. She knows that her grades are suffering from not getting home from dance until 9:45 three nights a week and THEN starting homework. In addition, her director keeps throwing in Sunday rehearsals that are causing her to miss church activities.

We find our coolest dance clothes at conventions. The local stores seem to sock only the basics. The vendors set up booths at the conventions with all the latest stuff.

 

[U2_rocks!]

My 2 DDs do ballet, but just for fun. This is my 6 yo's second year, and my 5 yo's first.

My 6 yo is doing her first ballet exam next month - the RAD Primary exam. She's a natural - you should see her pointed foot, it's amazing! Her natural talent is what has allowed her to be ready for Primary after only a year and a half of once a week classes. Do any of you in America take the RAD exams? I did a few as a child, but I can't remember what it was all like. We aren't allowed to watch the kids do their exams, which will just kill me! I love watching my DDs dance!

My 5 yo has more of a "normal" level of talent, and is currently in Beginners (which has no exam). Next year she'll do pre-Primary, and then Primary the year after. Once she reaches Primary level she can either do the Exam class, or the non-Exam class (for those at Primary level who may not be interested or ready for the exams).

I also dance - I take an adult Jazz class in the evenings! The dance school puts on an end of year show to the public (people pay to come and see the show, it's usually really good!), and this is my second year dancing in the show. My DD in Primary can be in the show for the first time this year and is so excited!! Our class is working on our routine now, and her class will start theirs once the Exam is over.

The only competition we have here is NIFCA, which is the organization that governs all forms of art in Barbados, including performing art. The ballet school we are with had several entries in the dance competitions, and got several medals. The dances that are performed by our school are usually chosen from the most recent end of year show that happened before the NIFCA competition. My DDs will only get to perform in this competition if they are part of a dance routine that came off really well at the show, and the director of our school feels has sufficient technical difficulty as well to be a contender. My adult jazz class will never get to compete at NIFCA - we're in it for fun, and our routines focus more on entertainment than on technical prowess.

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

No, we are doing No Limit in May. Its a small competition I think the same weekend as Celebrity. Encore and Celebrity look to be in the works for next year though. The Director wanted the girls who are new to company to go to the smaller competitions this year so they are not so overwhelmed.

Were you at SHOCK? I know there was a Tucson studio there I think it was called Dance West.

Nice to meet you "neighbor" sort of anyway!

Howdy "neighbor"!

We didn't do SHOCK. We did NUVO (convention and competition) a couple of weeks ago. Of course we are not at Danswest either! My girls dance at Gotta Dance! Dance Academy (which is different from the Gotta Dance Co from Surprise who also happened to be at NUVO!!).

The girls were so excited at NUVO. Travis and Ivan from So You Think You Can Dance fame are teachers on the NUVO staff, and the dancers got to take classes from them. Then the studio that Sabra came from was also there, and she came to support them. DD1 got all of their autographs, and here is a great picture of her with Sabra (who is tiny!! Even with her hair, she barely came up to my chin and I am only 5'7"):

 

[undercovermom]

My 15 year old is seriously considering giving up private company next year and just doing HS drill team. If she makes varsity, they practice 2 1/2 hours a day. With that, plus an outside technique class, her skills should stay sharp. She knows that her grades are suffering from not getting home from dance until 9:45 three nights a week and THEN starting homework. In addition, her director keeps throwing in Sunday rehearsals that are causing her to miss church activities.

We find our coolest dance clothes at conventions. The local stores seem to sock only the basics. The vendors set up booths at the conventions with all the latest stuff.

We don't have a JV dance team, we have a very small dance team (22 girls). My dd gave up on studio dance in her freshman year, except for a weekly private lesson, because she was overwhelmed with homework. She figures she's not going to major in dance in college, so she's got to focus on academics.

My other dd, the cheerleader, took jazz and tap during her freshman year of high school, but dropped dance when it started to conflict with her cheerleading commitments -- the JV basketball games all seemed to be the same night as her dance class.

There are only so many hours in a day, after all.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I see those conflicts on the horizon--DD12 is currently in 7th grade. We live in a small, rural town, so no dance team, cheerleading is only at the HS level. So she takes dance locally as well as at another (non-competitive) studio out of town. Coaches are real understanding now, at the "modified" sports level--in the fall, the sport takes priority, but in the spring, it has to be dance due to recitals. I don't expect a varsity level coach to be as "okay" with that as the modified coaches are.

So, we'll see what DD wants to do. We're just following her lead. I don't see her as a ballet dancer--she won't have the figure for it. She's skinny but too curvy (or will be in a couple years). Tap is her strongest syle, but she loves jazz and hip-hop as well.

BTW, we saw Sabra and all the dancers on the SYTYCD tour. We stayed after so DD could get her t-shirt autographed. Sabra was so tiny, I felt like I could pick her up and carry her home! She was just adorable, too. Really, they all were.

 

[CraftyMouse]

I don't see her as a ballet dancer--she won't have the figure for it. She's skinny but too curvy (or will be in a couple years). Tap is her strongest syle, but she loves jazz and hip-hop as well.

This is my DD15, as well. She loves tap/jazz/hip hop. She takes ballet because it makes her a better dancer, but she doesn't love it. The best thing we ever did was move her to a tap/jazz-centered studio. Her old studio was ballet/lyric-centered. Despite being one of the best at her level, DD never fit "the mold" for what those dancers should look like. she is just 5' tall, is very slim, but curvy and just doesn't have the feet for ballet. It was starting to take a toll on her, emotionally. We moved her to a new studio this year and the change has been amazing. She has rediscovered her passion for dance and no longer feels like she's not good enough.

So, my advice for any parent who's child takes dance seriously is to get them into a studio that fits the type of dancer they are. It's always good to have a well-rounded program (DD takes ballet, jazz, modern, tap, hip hop, technique and theater classes), but they need to be in an environment that supports who they are and what they can do.

 

[pixiepower1971]

Another dance mom checking in!

DD#1 is 11. She has been dancing for almost 9 years now. Her passion is ballet. She recently went en pointe and is thrilled beyond all words! She is on her studios competition team and is dancing 2 team numbers and a solo and duet this year. She competes about 6 times a year. She takes technique classes in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical and hip hop, leaps and turns, etc. She takes whatever she can. She dances and assists around 25 hours a week. Most of that time is spent dancing.

DD#2 is 9. She has been dancing for almost 7 years. Her passion is hip hop but she is a very strong jazz dancer and tapper. LOVES rythym tap! She competes as well and takes the same # of classes as her older sister, minus pointe. She is also competing 2 team numbers(different from her sister) a solo and duet.

This year they are performing a duet together. They make me cry every time they dance!

Off to sew some new ballet shoes for DD#1- competition this weekend!

 

[undercovermom]

Has anyone's children done a dance camp? My dd didn't, but she had a few friends who've done it.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

This is my DD15, as well. She loves tap/jazz/hip hop. She takes ballet because it makes her a better dancer, but she doesn't love it. The best thing we ever did was move her to a tap/jazz-centered studio. Her old studio was ballet/lyric-centered. Despite being one of the best at her level, DD never fit "the mold" for what those dancers should look like. she is just 5' tall, is very slim, but curvy and just doesn't have the feet for ballet. It was starting to take a toll on her, emotionally. We moved her to a new studio this year and the change has been amazing. She has rediscovered her passion for dance and no longer feels like she's not good enough.

So, my advice for any parent who's child takes dance seriously is to get them into a studio that fits the type of dancer they are. It's always good to have a well-rounded program (DD takes ballet, jazz, modern, tap, hip hop, technique and theater classes), but they need to be in an environment that supports who they are and what they can do.

I completely agree with you. Our local teacher specializes in tap/jazz--DD knew she was weak in ballet. So, this is her first year doing it at her "away" studio, because she wanted to improve her technique. Can't argue with that! I wouldn't stop her from going en pointe when she's developed enough, but it wouldn't be my choice. Instead, I try to emphasize all the ways you can have dance in your life, at any age.

 

[CraftyMouse]

I completely agree with you. Our local teacher specializes in tap/jazz--DD knew she was weak in ballet. So, this is her first year doing it at her "away" studio, because she wanted to improve her technique. Can't argue with that! I wouldn't stop her from going en pointe when she's developed enough, but it wouldn't be my choice. Instead, I try to emphasize all the ways you can have dance in your life, at any age.

DD went en pointe at age 12. Her teacher was adamant that they not start before that age as it can do some serious damage to your feet. She had criteria that they had to meet (holding themselves in releve for a certain amount of time, etc.) before they could go up. She actually loved pointe, even though she is not fond of regular ballet. Unfortunately her new studio does not offer it, but she still does some here at home.

And you're right...you can have dance in your life on your own terms and still be successful. Too many studios tell you that you "have" to be a certain type of dancer to make it, but there are so many variables. A lot depends on what the casters are looking for and how good your stage presence is. Most dance jobs do not stretch the dancers to their fullest ability.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

My DD hasn't hit puberty yet and is still growing. Plus, this is her first year of ballet technique--she seems to be doing okay with it, but I know she's putting a lot of work into it. I'll follow her teacher's lead as to when/if pointe is a good choice for her. I have no idea what criteria the teacher would look for.

DD also goes back and forth on whether dance would be a career for her. I would kind of prefer that she choose something else (more stable!). If you ask her now, she would tell you she wants to be a forensic pathologist, but then a Rockette on the weekends! I doubt she'll be tall enough, not that I seriously think it would work anyway. But that's why I try to emphasize a lifetime of dance--so she doesn't think that, just because she's not a career dancer, she can't enjoy it for recreation, physical activity, etc.